The Genesis and Genius of Stretch Architects.
It’s well known that a good number of architecture firms are born as a joint venture, but few have a story as significant as Stretch Architects. Fellow students at university, friends, colleagues, and then business partners, Stephen Hitchcock and David Long embraced the meaning of ‘dynamic duo’ to a new level, and there’s no doubt their success is rooted in this dedication. For our sustainability issue, we bring you our conversation with Stephen and Dave about their origin story, their approach to spatial sustainability, and the features that allow their designs to stretch the limits of the industry.
How did Stretch Architects come to be?
Dave: We became good friends while studying together at UCT, where we completed our Masters degrees. After university, I worked for Jo Noero for five years, while Stephen worked independently on various projects under the guidance of Paul Krynauw. Over the five-year period we remained good friends and worked on a number of passion projects together, one of which was creating a short film of Red Location Precinct for Jo.
We had talked for a while about starting a practice together, but the film was in many ways a catalyst, as it made us realise that we were not only friends but also worked really well together. Even during the process of making the film, we each had our own individual strengths — we could bring different skills to the table.
In 2016 we formed Stretch Architects. Since then, we have also become neighbours… so we are pretty all-in as far as a partnership goes.
What are some of the biggest constraints you have faced since founding Stretch?
Stephen: Architecture is a long game. Good buildings take time and it is important to remember that. Our main challenges have been when and how to scale the practice, finding the ideal number of team members, and clearly defining roles. These allow each project the time it needs to be the best version it can be, and running a profitable architectural practice while working on projects that align with our core values.
Dave: Having the ability to say no. Being somewhat forced to say yes to projects is in many ways a constraint. Iain Louw (UCT Professor) once mentioned in a lecture that you have to do the type of work you want to do, otherwise you will continue to do the type of work you don’t want to do. It sounds obvious but it is not that easy to do. When starting a practice, you can’t be too selective about the projects you take on. You need experience and money.
We have been fortunate enough to have had some really good clients that have placed a lot of trust in us to create projects which we are really proud of and would love to do more of. This has put us in a position where we can finally start to turn down projects for which we are not the right fit. This is not an easy thing to do, but we are optimistic that long term it will lead to a healthier practice, better relationships, and happier daily lives.
How has your design ethos and approach evolved throughout your practice?
Stephen: Each project is its own unique journey. The more projects we complete, the better equipped we become for the next journey and the inevitable unknowns we encounter along the way. Our approach has always been to follow the thread of each project as honestly as possible. If you do not understand you cannot create and over time one gets better at identifying the essential ingredients of each project and how to best mix them together.
Buildings are not built in a vacuum. Choose your project team wisely. The common denominator behind every successful project is teamwork. Open and clear communication and collaboration between the client, the professional team, and the contractor is essential.
In what ways do you consider spatial sustainability when designing buildings for South Africa?
Dave: It’s about doing the most with the least. I think our own houses are a great example of this. We built two 95 m² houses on a 190 m² plot. Each house supports four people. That’s a population density of 421 people per hectare. Each house has a garden and parking. I’m not saying everyone should live like this, but it is certainly more sustainable than massive homes with loads of green technology thrown at them.
Stephen: Make every element in a building work harder. A roof is a garden, a water collector, a skylight, and a sun protector.
Do you have a favourite feature or technique that marries nature with architecture in your designs?
Dave: It might sound trite, but we love to integrate planting in and on our buildings. This is another great example of doing the most with the least. Plants evolve, grow, and transform over time. This process is beautiful to witness and adds massive value to any place at relatively low cost. We are less concerned about being connected to nature and more concerned with the idea that plants are nice to look at. It’s about beauty, not symbolism.
Stephen: Why build it when you can grow it? Plants are a very important design tool. They connect a building to the seasons and offer an endless colour and aromatic pallet to the design toolbox. On top of that, they are also privacy makers, weather protectors, and noise collectors. A well considered tree in the right place really ties the room together.
How do you ensure that your buildings contribute positively to the well-being of their users?
Dave: Aside from the obvious universal things like great natural light, good ventilation, volume, and natural materials, we have a kind of litmus test in the office whereby we both have to be very excited about the project. If we are not excited then we know we have not yet got it right.
What are your favourite sustainable materials to use at the moment and what do you foresee becoming popular in the future?
Stephen: Over the past few years, we have extensively used timber in our projects, not just as a finishing material but also for the structure, walls, and floors. We will continue to see the construction of more residential and commercial buildings using mass timber. Additionally, as 3D printing technology becomes more affordable, we can expect to see an increase in 3D-printed buildings.
What is on the cards for Stretch for the rest of this year?
Stephen: We continue with the pursuit to become a ‘client-free’ architectural practice as we dedicate more of our time and resources towards self-initiated developments. Project wise we are looking forward to the completion of a new Ballet School currently under construction.
This article is an extract from our August Issue. Read the full issue here.
